IDF strikes Hezbollah targets that posed ‘imminent threat’ to Israeli civilians, as alarms sound

The IDF says it has detected preparations by Hezbollah to launch rockets and missiles and is preemptively striking in Lebanon “to remove the threat.”

Fighter jets are striking Hezbollah targets that “posed an imminent threat to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the army says, adding that “life-saving instructions” will be sent out in some parts of the country.

Alarms are meanwhile sounding in several northern communities.

In a video statement, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says: “A short while ago, the IDF identified the Hezbollah terrorist organization preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory.”

“‌‏In a self-defense act to remove these threats, the IDF is striking terror targets in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah was planning to launch their attacks on Israeli civilians,” he says.

“Hezbollah will soon fire rockets, and possibly missiles and UAVs, towards Israeli territory. ‌‏We will shortly update the Home Front Command Defensive guidelines for those in Israel,” Hagari continues.

“‌‏From right next to the homes of Lebanese civilians in the south of Lebanon, we can see that Hezbollah is preparing to launch an extensive attack on Israel, while endangering the Lebanese civilians. ‌‏We warn the civilians located in the areas where Hezbollah is operating, to move out of harm’s way immediately for their own safety,” he says.

Hagari says that “Hezbollah’s ongoing aggression risks dragging the people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the whole region into a wider escalation. ‏Israel will not tolerate Hezbollah’s attacks on our civilians.

“‏We are operating in self-defense from Hezbollah — and any other enemy that joins in their attacks against us — and we are ready to do everything we need to defend the people of Israel,” he adds.